Turning The Page To A New Life Chapter

It's official!

As of today, I'll be freelancing full-time as copywriter and virtual assistant.

My current mood swings back and forth between excited elation and knee-jellying terror. It goes something like this:


Squeeee! I'm free! I will make a living with my writing and VAing! I can work from home! I can work from anywhere! Except...

Yikes! What if I don't earn enough? What if I can't pay my bills or health insurance? What if my clients drop me? What if I fuck up? What if I'm just not good/organized/disciplined enough? And yet...

Squeeee! I can start novel-writing again! I can set up a passive source of income! I can work on my balcony! I can get a dog!


I'm going to make an educated guess that everyone who takes the leap from employment to freelancing also takes the same or a similar ride on the emotional rollercoaster. It's scary and exhilirating all in one.

It's probably also one of the most courageous things I've ever done, even though it doesn't feel that way (yet?).

Over the past year or so, things have kept falling into place in my life, things that I let happen and guide me, things that brought me here without me having to pull and push and shove and fight.

Yes, I worked hard to get here. I'm sleep-deprived, my to-do list is a mile long, and I can't remember the last time I had a proper work-out.

But I don't feel drained, or stressed, or like the ground might suddenly break away from under my feet. I don't have to fear that I'll die of hunger alone in a gutter somewhere if this doesn't pan out. I have several backup and contingency plans in place, in case something goes wrong.

I'm as prepared as I'll ever be, and I know it. I feel safe in taking this step now, at this point in my life. And I'm happy and immensely grateful to be able to start this new life chapter in such a positive way.

Taking my Writing to the Next Level in 2016

Hard to believe 2015 is almost over. It was a busy year for me, writing-wise. I finished a novel and started querying agents for it (one has already requested a full. Yay!). I almost finished the first draft of the next novel in the series. 

So - busy. Busy busy bee.

2016 is about to become so much busier. Not only do I plan on finishing this second novel and a first draft of the third (and last in the series), as well as hopefully *fingers crossed* selling the first. I'm also going to start a freelance (copy)writing business. 

Gulp. Did I just post that out loud? 

I guess I did. Does that make it official?

I'm going to start small - as part-time next to my day job, which will remain my main source of income. For now. ;-)

To get started, I created a website about my copywriting endeavors, called Word for Word. The first blog post on the bloggy page of this site goes live this Sunday, and explains How to Prepare for Going Freelance as a Copywriter. 

I'm also launching an entirely new blog, called Blusher's Blog, dedicated to all things erythrophobia - a social anxiety that leaves people afraid to blush. Sounds harmless, right? Except it isn't to those afflicted. Living with erythrophobia can severely restrict and confine your life. I overcame it several years ago, but it's still a topic close to my heart that I'm finally ready to talk about. And maybe help a few people through it in the process. The first post also goes live on Sunday, and describes How Fear of Blushing, aka "Erythrophobia", Affects People (Besides Blushing). 

If you're curious enough to check them out, I'd love to know what you think! 



Phew. These have got to be the loftiest aspirations I've ever had. It's scary, exciting and exhilirating all in one. And I know it's a little early, but maybe you already have goals for 2016, too? If so, I'd love to hear about them. Maybe we can be scared, excited and exhilirated together?!